The Wamego City Commission approved a salary adjustment for all positions at Tuesday’s meeting. City Manager Merl Page said they periodically performed salary surveys with a core group of comparable cities competitive wages. Page said the overall analysis show the need for a salary adjustment for all positions, excluding the City Manager. Page asked the Commission to approve $20,000 for a mid-year salary adjustment for the current pay period. Approval was given by a vote of 5 to 0.
In other business, the Commission approved the purchase of a new John Deere Gator TX from Concordia Tractor, Inc., (CTI) for $6,300 after trade-in. According to Page, this was supposed to be a 2016 budget item, but the current Gator in the Recreation Department quit. Commissioner Bob Morse asked if there were funds in the budget for the purchase, and Page said funds will be transferred out of the Equipment Reserve Fund. Both CTI and KanEquip presented bids, with CTI coming in the lowest. Approval was given by a vote of 5 to 0.
Page announced the June sales tax numbers reflect a 2.08 percent increase for the City, and a 3 .08 increase for the County, compared to the same 6-month period a year ago.
And the Wamego City Commission approved additional bus route in Wamego. Page reviewed the request from aTa Bus Director Ann Smith for annual support of between $3,000 to $5,000. After the Commission studied the issue, they asked aTa Bus’ Kevin Riley if they could add an additional route from downtown Wamego. aTa Bus currently provides daily routes to Highland Community College.
Both Smith and Riley attended this meeting armed with a handout outlining a route from the Wamego Senior Center three times a day, Monday through Friday. The route will take riders to three Manhattan locations, with the latest arriving back to Wamego at 8:30 p.m. Page recommended the Commission approve support allocation to aTa Bus in the amount of $3,500 for a one-year trial period. A motion was made and approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
In other business, Page announced the 2016 budget hearing is scheduled for August 13th. He said the meeting is normally earlier, but the City is waiting for clarification of several issues from the State.
